Sunday, July 1, 2012

Expectations

I went to the movies yesterday to see a much-hyped movie,
and it wasn’t at all what I expected. From the promos, I planned to see an
comedy filled with half-naked men dancing.

What I got was a dark look at the underside (no pun
intended) of the industry. The headline grabbing actor who is prominent in all
the movie’s advertisements wasn’t in much of the movie. And although the show
was interesting, I’d expected to see more of him.

The dancing (and tight male chests) were nice to watch,
but the alcohol and drug abuse worried me, since I saw a few children in the
audience with their moms. Not the type of movie I would have taken a six year
old to see.

Discussing the movie with my hubby the next day was
enlightening. He made this interesting query. Why do women see nothing wrong
with watching male strippers, yet think of women who earn a living stripping
with derision?

The double standard is there for all to see.I can’t imagine a movie of this sort playing
in major theatres if the genders were reversed. The male leads were
promiscuous, but in our culture, men are allowed to sleep around while women
are still expected by many to be innocent.

It’s all about expectations.

As a reader and writer of romantic fiction, I have my own
expectations. When I pick up a book with a house on the front, expect a certain
type of story, usually a mystery or a sweet romance. When the cover shows a
bare-chested man, I expect a hot, sexy love story. The same can be said of people on the street
or at the neighborhood mall. Who among us hasn’t sat on a bench at the mall and
people-watched?

The way people dress, walk, talk to their companions,
interact with their children or spouse, is fascinating. Sometimes it’s even
better than a movie.